Restylane

In Phoenix and Glendale, Arizona

Dr. Paul Angelchik is a Phoenix plastic surgery specialist who offers Restylane at his practice. In the paragraphs below he describes this procedure and how Scottsdale, Glendale and Phoenix Restylane patients have benefited from treatment.

Injectable filler materials are used to enhance or correct contour on the face or body. Each material has specific properties that influence its application, longevity, and risk / benefit profile. In the United States in 2008 the most popular filler on the market is Restylane®, a hyaluronic acid (HA) product. Restylane® is made in Sweden and imported to the USA. Several million Restylane® injections have been carried out at this time with an excellent safety profile and success rate. Because there is no animal protein in the filler, allergy testing is not required. It can be used in complementary fashion with other fillers and Botox®.

What is Restylane?

Restylane® is not derived from animals. HA is a natural complex sugar molecule occurring in all people. HA is strongly hydrophilic. This means that it binds water avidly and thus contributes to tissue volume. In the dermis, the deeper layer of the skin HA helps to maintain volume, shape, and smoothness.  Natural HA is a liquid. HA fillers are cross linked gels with viscoelastic properties that allow them to retain a desired shape. The cross linking process helps slow metabolism of the filler, making it last longer. Different versions of the Restylane® HA products are available outside the USA. These can be used for different applications like deep tissue filling and fine lines. Many of these products will be here soon.

As we age, our skin produces less HA and the proteins collagen and elastin. Injection of HA helps to restore volume and smoothness to skin for the lifetime of the filler. Restylane® injections help restore volume to skin creases and folds and augment the shape of other areas like the lips, brow, or tear trough area between the nose and lower rim of the eye socket. Augmentation of chin or cheek contours are other applications of this product. Restylane® has a smooth, natural feel which patients like. It is easy to shape and inject and these properties make it a versatile filler. The diagram shows the level of injection in the skin for different skin problems: fine lines, wrinkles, and deeper folds.

Restylane Application
   Copyright Allergan Corporation 2008

Restylane Injections

Restylane injections require local anesthesia which can be administered by injection and topical routes. Most applications require injection for optimum numbing. Volume and shaping enhancements are shown to the patient as we go to demonstrate improvement and areas that may benefit from additional volume. After injection, there will be some swelling lasting up to 7 days, and some patients will bruise. This can last up to 2 weeks. Camouflage products can help to conceal bruising. Ice, elevation, and mild anti-inflammatory medication like Tylenol ® are recommended. Injection results last 4-12 months, with an average of 6 months depending on site of injection, depth of placement, and individual patient metabolism. Longer lasting results may be obtained with subsequent injections in some areas. Other versions of Restylane® for large volume contouring and very fine lines will add even more versatility to this popular filler.

All procedures have some degree of risk. While most patients do not have complications, minor complications that do not affect the outcome of a treatment or surgery may occur after some procedures. Major complications are rare. The specific risks and the suitability of a particular procedure are carefully reviewed at your consultation (and preoperative visits if you are having surgery). Your safety and comfort are our foremost concerns. We will provide additional detailed information for you at each stage of your experience from your initial contact with our office through your procedure and afterwards in an interactive fashion. We will ensure that you feel informed about your treatment options and recovery in advance and can actively and confidently participate in designing your treatment plan. We want you to have the best possible experience and will work with you to make it happen.

In addition to Restylane, Dr. Angelchik also performs facial plastic surgery procedures in his Phoenix cosmetic surgery practice. Visit these pages in the website to learn about how Dr. Angelchik treats Phoenix facelift, rhinoplasty, laser resurfacing, brow and forehead lift, otoplasty and blepharoplasty patients.